Nintendo Gives Straight Answer On Gay Marriage In Tomodachi Life

When Tomodachi Life was released in Japan last year, there was a flurry of news about Nintendo patching out what it called “human relations being strange.” Via alleged mistranslation, this was assumed to be the publisher patching out same-sex relationships.

This wasn't exactly the case. According to company statements, a bug was introduced that put Miis in random, existing relationships. If players ended up romantically involved with a member of the same sex, the game broke. Additionally, Nintendo says that images that surfaced of Miis dressed up as members of the opposite sex were part of the confusion.

Despite the confusion, the news caught attention. It also got the wheels turning for some players after the game's recent announcement for release here in the west.

Tye Marini, a Nintendo fan, has petitioned the company to allow relationships between same sex Miis in the North American release via a petition online. Nintendo has decided not to acquiesce.

"Nintendo never intended to make any form of social commentary with the launch of 'Tomodachi Life,'" Nintendo of America Inc. said in a statement to the Associated Press. "The relationship options in the game represent a playful alternate world rather than a real-life simulation. We hope that all of our fans will see that 'Tomodachi Life' was intended to be a whimsical and quirky game, and that we were absolutely not trying to provide social commentary."

Nintendo’s Tomodachi Life product description invites players to recreate their friends and family and “watch as they rap, rock, eat donuts, fall in love, break up, go shopping, play games, and live their crazy Mii lives.” Nintendo says that same-sex relationships were never intended, and denies they were part of the game.

"The ability for same-sex relationships to occur in the game was not part of the original game that launched in Japan, and that game is made up of the same code that was used to localize it for other regions outside of Japan," Nintendo told AP. Tomodachi Life has sold 1.85 million copies in Japan alone.

Our TakeNintendo has made the decision to disallow some of its fans from accurately recreating themselves in a game that is all about your friends and family. I’ll be able to recreate my family, complete with romantic relationships, but my homosexual friends won’t be able to do the same.

Nintendo now knows, without a doubt, how fans feel about it. And it just feels wrong to me that the company is unwilling to welcome part of its fan base in.

I don't see why this is such a big deal for you people if it was never even intended to be in the game in the first place. One game where homosexuality isn't present. Get over it and go play something else that has it.

Gay marriage should be allowed everywhere.
Polyamorous marriages should be allowed everywhere.
Prostitution should be allowed everywhere.
What responsible, consenting adults do with one another should be allowed.
This just makes Nintendo look behind the times, but in that, I'm not really surprised. Nintendo is afraid to approach issues like this, and in that, it's very disappointing.
A word to anyone reading this far in: If you say things like "homosexuals shouldn't be allowed to marry," replace the word "homosexuals" with "blacks," or "Jews" or "white people" or just plaing old "minorities." Because that's how bigoted it is. Hating homosexuals is no different than racism.

It baffles me that Nintendo is trying to tread this wishy-washy middle ground when just last year they released Animal Crossing: New Leaf, a game that spat in the face of gender roles and conventions.
Nintendo in 2013: boys can wear dresses, skirts, and make-up. It's 2013, deal with it! (actual dialogue. http://goo.gl/UE5juU)
Nintendo in 2014: oops, we're not trying to make a political statement.

Can't please everyone. I couldn't really care either way...not including it won't have me crying foul about how Nintendo hates gays and including it won't make me get mad about the gays taking over the earth. I'm kinda meh on the whole thing, though I do prefer that everyone be treated equally, which doesn't seem to be the case here.

Always a touchy subject for some. Not for me. I couldn't care any less about an opinion about my opinions. I respect everyone no matter what they do or believe.
I see video games as art. I see them as optional entertainment. While I may not agree or see things the same as Nintendo in how to handle this situation (or maybe I do), it's their right to do whatever that is. It's not our place to force a creator to make their game the way we want. Speak with your wallets. And seriously, attacking people for their beliefs one way or the other is certainly wrong.
But keep in mind video games are creations. Wonderful creations. You can be upset or take offense, but stop trying to ask for control here.

In a world where same sex marriage and even relationships are far from accepted, it's a shame that for a game promising to allow you to 'recreate your friends and family' and I presume relationships, won't include the option. Games are for many a chance to escape to a different world after all.
I'm not in favor of shoehorning it into every game, because that wouldn't make a bit of sense. But it seems that for a game like this, it should've been high on the checklist.

Good for them. It's nice to see Ninty's staying classy and taking a stand on traditional marriage. I don't have anything against other peoples sexual preferences, but when it comes to gay marriage, that's where I draw the line.

Oh well. I can't see the gay community as a whole seeing this as some huge loss. If anything it helps them choose weather or not to purchase this specific game. If I decide to walk into a gay bar, does that bar suddenly begin imposing straight measures in an attempt not to offend me? No, and they shouldn't. Nintendos choice was made without regard for the homosexual agenda, and kudos to them. There are plenty of other games where it can be done, and I'm sure more will exist in the future. The fact that GI posted an article like this proves a fear factor, and no one should have to function that way for fear of offending.

What's the latest estimate of state sanctioned same sex marriages in America? 75,000?
What's the latest estimate of homosexuals per capita in America? 2% to a long stretch of 3 1/2% ? Is it less or more in the rest of North America? I honestly don't know the exact numbers but I can't imagine the percentages are very much higher.
Considering who the potential player base of the game will be the financial risks of alienating a very large segment of their consumer base who are potentially conservative parents and others who most certainly do not approve or accept homosexual relationships are just too great.
I really find it hard to fault Nintendo on this particular decision because it's based on protecting their bottom line.
Let's not forget that Mass Effect 3 came out for the Wii U and it has same sex romance so it's not like Nintendo are completely against having games with same sex on their systems at all. If they were truly "anti-gay" or practicing discrimination they wouldn't allow it in any games on their systems at all would they?
After reading some of the comments I have to ask: When did it become acceptable or right to force artists, writers and other creative talent to bow to the wants of the few?
Should a small but very vocal community really be allowed to dictate to the rest of us what we will or will not or should and should not accept?

Good job Nintendo! This ultra manly game with Miis doesn't need any other distractions from its pure awesomeness. I can't wait to “watch as they rap, rock, eat donuts, fall in love, break up, go shopping, play games, and live their crazy Mii lives” as soon as finals are over.
I'm uninstalling Dark Souls 2 and going to cancel my Watch Dogs preorder. I may even skip next fall just to see exactly how many donuts these super straight Miis can eat.